Manuel de Falla's, 'Miller's Dance', and the Solar System.

I did get to speak to Robin last night, just prior to his concert, and asked what he was doing.
"Practising the Miller's Dance, what are you doing?"
"Oh, making a mobile of the solar system, with son number two."
"That's nice."
I didn't think he was really concentrating, so left him to his Falla, and went back to recreating the universe.

However, we did get to talk again after the concert, and it all went very well.
I'd known Robin had been apprehensive about performing Manuel de Falla's, 'Miller's Dance', from 'The Three Cornered Hat'.
For many years he has performed the piece with the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo, and it has always been hugely popular.
So, when he decided to add it to his solo repertoire, I was looking forward to hearing the end result.
The problem was he couldn't find a suitable arrangement of it anywhere.
So he did one himself.

This was the first time Robin has performed the solo version in public, and it's always a different experience to practising it alone in your music room.
He needn't have worried though, it went very well, and the audience loved it.

Amongst other things, he also played his own 'Fiesta de Xabia', 'Two Dances' by John Dowland, Two pieces for Viheula ('Guardame Las Vacas' - Luis de Narvaez, 'Fantasia' -Alonso Mudarra), 'And I Love Her' - Paul McCartney, 'Una Limosna par el Amor de Dios' - Agustin Barrios, some Villa-Lobos and Pernambuco.

A nice programme, shame I wasn't there to hear it.
Today he should be in Grand Turk, even bigger shame I'm not there to see that, I'm awaiting further news here in the cold.

'Yesterday' and Robin Hill

'Yesterday' by Lennon and McCartney has to be one of the most well known songs ever recorded.
The song was written by Paul McCartney after the music came to him in a dream. He then used the words 'scrambled eggs' until he later worked out the lyrics!

This version of 'Yesterday', is an arrangement of Robin's, for two guitars, and is track 9 on Virtuoso.
Over the years the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo have recorded many Beatles tracks, which they always arranged themselves.
Often they would add little musical quotes from other well known songs, somewhere in the arrangement, and we have often wondered if anyone noticed them. Some are more obvious than others, and they aren't necessarily from other Beatles songs.

There is in fact one in 'Yesterday', but you would have to hear the whole track, to see if you could identify the musical quip.
Can anyone spot it?

Other news, there was an interesting article in the Telegraph today, by Simon Heffer.
Heffer gives an excellent review of a new film about the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. It sounds like it will be well worth watching, and you can see it in the UK on Channel 5 on January 1st. As the film is three hours long it should give you plenty of time to recover from any overindulgence the night before.
If you can't wait until then to see it, it's available on DVD form tomorrow, at, tonypalmerdvd.com

Deep Purple Haze Days

As we watched Paul McCartney the other evening, a memory was triggered for Robin, which I felt worthy of repeating.
It occurred as McCartney was playing 'I Saw Her Standing There', which he performed with his usual brilliance.
Robin said, "That's what I played with Deep Purple, at the audition."
I couldn't let that go and immediately went into 'blog' mode.

Robin was called down to Pinewood Studios for an audition for the place of lead guitarist, in a post Deep Purple band, put together by Jon Lord and Ian Paice.
The position had become vacant after the untimely death of Tommy Bolin, a fantastic guitarist who had played on one of our favourite recordings, 'Spectrum' by Billy Cobham.
So it was a pretty nerve wracking experience for Robin.

They started with, 'I Saw Her Standing There', and then went on to play, 'Palace of the King', by BB King.

The other band members then went off to deliberate, and returned promptly, to say Robin had got the gig.
Exciting times.

They went on to do a demo of 'Palace of the King', and you can hear it today.
The band members at this point were:
Ian Paice - Drums
Jon Lord - Keyboard
Maggie Bell - Vocals
Paul Martinez - Bass
Robin Hill - Electric Guitar

This track was actually recorded at George Harrison's house...
Unfortunately he wasn't in at the time, but they did meet on another occasion, however, that's another story...

For now you can hear 'Palace of the King' from the player in the side bar.

Would you like a CD with your Coffee?...

There was a nice article yesterday in 'Slate Magazine', by Daniel Gross, in which he was looking at CD sales, and poses the question, 'If the CD is dead, why are so many companies going into the CD business?'
It has been well documented that generally CD sales are falling due to a preference for digital singles over albums, resulting in the closure of many record shop.
However, that isn't the case for all.
Gross points out that some stores are seeing an increase in sales, and suggests that what's required is a different style of marketing.
The recent signing of Paul McCartney to Starbucks is one example. They already have established outlets, with the facility to sell over the counter, and a large volume of customers each day. I'm sure they must have done their sums and feel it will be a financially viable option.
I have often said in past blogs that a new approach is required to encourage audiences to attend concerts, and, particularly to draw the next generation in. So a revamp of marketing approaches for performance and music sales is what is needed.
Luckily, we spent the morning in a meeting doing just that. It was a productive time and hopefully will 'streamline' the Robin Hill experience when we have it up and running.

Help Save the Brazilian Rainforest

The tradition of musicians being associated with good causes goes back a long way.
High profile artists such as Paul McCartney, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell have all been connected with rainforest preservation worldwide.
So when we were approached by Brazilian Springs, to help promote the work they are doing in aid of the Brazilian rainforest, there really was no hesitation.
The Brazilian rainforest is often referred to as "the lungs of the planet", as it not only reduces global warming by absorbing harmful gases, but also produces 20% of the world's oxygen.
For every 300ml bottle of Brazilian Springs water you purchase, the Brazilian Rain Forest Foundation can buy at least 12 square meters of rainforest. One bottle a day for a year adds to an area the size of a football pitch.
Alongside preserving and regenerating the forest they are also helping local farmers to find alternative farming methods.
Follow the links to the sites for more information and some very nice pictures, and even better, if you are in or around London on the 18/19/20th March come to ExCel and talk to the company yourself whilst listening to Robin play his guitar on and off throughout the day.
They will be on stand No ST4723, or, just follow the sound of music.

Meanwhile out a sea, Robin had the luxury of enjoying an evening as a member of the audience for a change, and watched an enjoyable show with singers and dancers covering songs by Cole Porter and Irving Berlin amongst others.